Stenciling or imparting machine



March 193\- J. c. ZUBLI STENCILING OR IMPARTING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l Quezon-9Q March 17, 1931; ZUBLI 1,796,498

s'rEucILING on 'IMPARTING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1927 a Sheets-Sheet a awe/"tow J I T JLZSZ'USCZLZbZZ' Patented Mar. 17, 1931 Price JUS'IUS o. ZUBLI, or BRnMnRToN, wasnriveron STEN CILIN' G OR IMPARTING MACHINE Application filed July 28, 1927. Serial No. 208,900.

My invention relates to machines for stenciling or otherwise imparting to an ob ject or surface a design, and it is particularly concerned with machine for carrying out the method described in my application, Serial No. 52,301, although, by this machine, a design may be imparted to a surface without the use of stencils or diverters.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine which is suii'iciently flexible to give, through mechanical means, the various shadings of tone and color which might be obtained through hand work, and which can mechanically reproduce over and over the same designs or effects, whether by the use of stencils, or by traversing an air gun over a predetermined path without using stencils.

in large measure, then, my invention has relation to the production of a stenciling or imparting machine which is capable of a wide variety of adjustments, and which may go through various cycles.

Another object is the production of a machine capable of traversing a sheet from side to side and lengthwise, simultaneously, to

cover the entire surface thereof, and, more specifically, such a machine wherein the spray guns are carried on a slide movable lon itudinally of a carriage which is itself movable transversely, and the control of these two movements from a common drive and timing device I Among the objects having to do *ith the mechanism embodied in my machine, it is an object to provide means for controlling the discharge of stenciling media, automatically or otherwise, whereby as a spray gun approaches a surface, its discharge may be diminished or cut off.

Again, it is an object to include in such a machine a timing control whereby the machine may be set to complete a given cycle or cycles, and then be stopped.

@ther objects, especially such as pertain to mechanical arrangements, will appear hereinafter.

My invention comprises the novel parts and the novel combination ant. arrangement thereof, as shown in the accompanying draw ings, described in the specification, and particularly defined by the claims terminating the same.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention in the form which is now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a general plan view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1, looking toward the top of the sheet in that figure.

Figure 8 is a section along the line, looking in the opposite direction.

Figure 4 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 8, showing a slightly modified form.

Figure 5 is a view substantially on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a view substantially on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of one of the spray guns, and Figure 8 is a side elevation thereof, taken from a point of view at right angles to Figure ,7.

My invention contemplates the pro-vision of means for creating motion of one or a series of spray guns or like elements, typifying a source of projection of a stenciling or imparting means, in various directions in a horizontal plane, and further, the movement of these spray guns or like elements to cause them to approach and recede from a surface,

and to permit their discharging at various selected angles. It contemplates also the mechanical reproduction of any desired cycle, so that a plurality of surfaces or objects may be stenciled cheaply and as copies one of another, so that any given design may be reproduced, as many times as may be desired, by this process. The invention contemplates various types of control for such movements, and both the means for obtaining these movements and their control may vary widely in mechanical f rm. However, I will proceed to describe the machine in its present embodiment.

The surface to be stenciled is indicated at S, supported upon a table T. This table may be stationary, but preferably is supported upon a ball and socket joint J, so that long shadow effects may be obtained by tilting it, or the angle of the stencils relative to the direction of the spray discharge may be varice instead of mo ing the spray guns it J for: le to control novenrent However, as shown her in, two or air brushes, representing an; no t it may 00 d. d to employ, are above the and directed i diverters be a looted by rm 13, the carselv as seen in ie table T,

, J I end 15, this t12111S verse mover ti o 2 3c 1 may be per- 11 mitten and a be given a lon the carriage 1 and relative to t these or like means, any o llllllfilolOll of movements in a horizontal plane can be given to the spray ffllllS G.

Various operating; means may be provided for the arms 13 and l l, though, preferably, each goes through a common control to the motor ll. which is a coannon source of power. Thus, the motor Til (h s s a pinion 90 engaging a gear 91, by means of which drive shaft 9 is rotated continuously. From this shattpower delivered to a rank arm 21 by means of meshed gears 92 and 93, this crank arm opera-tin a pitma i 22 adjustably the same tlll1.

aitudin: l

1 connected through the set bolts 23 with a leve 2 pivoted about the shaft 2, and carrying a atc l ratchet waeel c on the .3 secure: on the s a cam or cc which has ona therewith a follower wh ch an arm 31, guided at 32, may be reciprocated.

It will be noted in Figure 1 that the arm 31 is parallel with the arm 14, guided 17 on the T he connection between these arms ll and 31. as herein shown. comprises a w; llziug -heam arrangement, as a lever 83, pivot id S l on the frame and havin adjust- LS ends, connec able pivo; ho ts 35 and 36 at i ii'ig, respectively, with the arms 31 and 14. The pivot of the arm is slidable in a slot 37 and the support 38 is likewise slotted, as indi (rated at in igure 2, whereby the pivot- 3ll towards either of the pivots ire lever may be sh: t

. k y or the other, to adjust the lover,

may be adjust 0 a1 In this manner adjustment of the arm 6 may be obta slide 10 may obtained.

will be remembered,

ewientry. a e iano'e in the amount or To control movement of the main carriage 1, like n cans may be employed, or, as shown herein, the shaft 9 is provided with a cam 95, with which is engaged a cam follower 5 upon the ent of a sliding rod 50 guided upon base at 5 This sliding rod 50 is parallel .vith the arm 13, and movement is transmitted from the rod 50 t0 the arm 13 in the same manner as between the rods 31 and 14:, hence the description "for the one will suiiice for the other, it icing understood in this instance that the connection at- 36 corresponds to the connection at- 36, and the connection at 35 corresponds to the connection at 35.

By means of the constructions just deribed, it is possible for the carriage 1 to be 5 ven movement, the amount of which is controlled by the location of the pivot 341 of its controlling arm 00, and for the slide 10 to be i ven movement which is similarly controlled l which may vary with respect to the earso that longitudinal movement pres, r the reverse. This movement regular *ycles, owing to the common 'ough the shaft 9 of these members. The timing; of the various elements may also be ctritrolled through the use 0:! different cams at 3 and at 95.

It is highly desirable that some means he provided for continuing the movement oil such devices through one, two, three or more cycles, whichever is deemed prefer: hle. Th is, the device in: y be so arranged that the cam 23 is given one revolution through the 'atchet drive described, for tour revolutions it the cam 95, and it n '1 be desirable to permit the cam 8 to go through one revolution, only, or two, or p .rhaps three, to cover the surace intended. To this end I have providcd on the shaft 2 a gear meshing with the gear 20, with which is associated elect, tacts which are included in the circuit to the motor M (see Figures 1 and 2). A contact 2?, adjustably mounted on the drive tin base, (0"211'1'9 with a drum 28, secured to rotate vith gear 20. Both the contact 27 and the drum 28 are electrically connected in the motor c cuit. The drum has insulating insets 29 or in; at dili erent levels, one level havine; one only, the next level two insets, etc. positioning the contact 27 at any select 2d level the motor can be stopped once, twice, three times, or any selected number of times for one revolution of the drum 25 is the latter is symcln-orriz-zed wi h the main drive shaft 9, being positively driven therefrom, this forms a convenient way or synchronizing the entire cycle of operations, and of stopping the operation at a proper point in the cycle, to remove a completed surface and permit the positioning of another on the table T. This should always at a time when the guns have cleared the table, to permit a setting of stencils or diverters to be picked up intact, so that they will be maintained in i the spray gun.

their proper relationship to the entire design, all as has been referred to in my appli cation referred to above.

As has been noted it is sometimes desirable to move the guns G toward the surface S, or to cause them to recede therefrom. To accomplish this object, when desired, I have provided a worm pinion 40 on the main drive shaft 9, meshing with a worm gear 41 on a vertical shaft 42, this shaft carrying also a friction disc 4 with which is engaged a slidable friction disc 43 mounted upon a shaft 44, the shaft 44 being journaled at 45 upon the base B and being connected by universal joints 46, and the telescoping shaft 47, to a shaft 48 on the slide 10 which carries a gear 49.

The gear 49 meshes with a gear 50 upon a shaft 51 journaled at .52 upon the slide 10. On this shaft 51 are secured eccentrics or like members 5 to control the several guns G. This may be accomplished through rocker arms 53 pivoted at 54 from a bracket 55 supported on the slide 10, or in any other suitable manner. One end of the rocker arm is connected to the eccentric strap or rod 56, and its other end is connected to a sleeve controlling movement of the spray gun. Parallel movement is achieved through a link 57 also secured to the bracket 55 and to the sleeve 60, so that the sleeve 60 always maintains its vertical position.

In the sleeves 60 are carried the main supports for the guns G. Preferably these take the form of rods 6 slidable and rotatable within the sleeves G, and normally clamped in place therein, as by the set screws 61 (see Figure 3). The lower ends 62 of the rods 6 are bent laterally, and on these laterally bent ends are clamped the brackets in which the guns G are directly clamped, as by means of the set screws 71. The rods 6 can be turned within the sleeves 61, or adjusted at any height therein, thus varying the initial setting of the guns G with respect to the surface S. r

The friction drive 43, 4, introduces an ele ment of possible variation, which may be desirable in order to change each card stenciled, and to give it a slightly individual touch. However, where exactness of reproduction is desired, it can be made certain by substituting gears 4 and 43 for the friction discs 4 and 43, respectively (see Figure 4).

t will be understood that the guns G may be of any construction desired, and, ordinarily, would be of much the same construction as any ordinary spray gun if the stenciling medium is a liquid coloring, or mordant, or like liquid stenciling medium. H wever, T prefer that they be controlled electrically, and to that end T provide a projecting rod 7 forming part of or connected to the usual control valve in the nozzle of A spring 7 2 interposed between a collar 73 on the stem 7 and an ear 74 formed on a bracket 75 tends to move the rod 7 in the direction which will normally close the control valve. A. further extension of the stem 7 carries a grooved piston valve 76, in the air line to the nozzle. The position of this piston valve 7 6 the stem 7 is controlled by a turn buckle 77, or like adjusting means. Movement of the valve extension 7 is controlled by a lever 78, pivoted at 79 and engageable by one end with a collar 7 adjustable along the rod 7.

it will be apparent that as the nozzle approaches the surface being stenciled, it will deliver a concentrated spray. To avoid too great concentration, an electromagnet 8 may be used to cut off the spray at such times. This attracts the arm 78, connected to the. valve stem 7, when energized, its limit of movement being determined by the adjustable stop 80. To energize the magnet a contact S1 is carried by the gun or by its supporting rod 6. and this contact may be vertically adjustable thereon. A complemental contact 82 is fixed to the slide 10, or the bracket 55 mounted thereon. As the gun, carrying the contact 81, moves downward, this contact eventually comes into contact with the contact 82, completing the circuit through the electromagnet 8. This moves the valve stem 7 in a direction to close the valve. It should be noted that such movement of the valve stem closes the air conduit by means of the valve 76, and stops all discharge of ir or stenciling medium from the nozzle.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be clear; it will also be clear how various adjustments can be effected, creating an endless variety of the most beautiful shaded and colored effects, as described in my application referred to above.

The characteristics of reproductions are affected by several factors, and especially when consecutive copies are to be uniform these factors must be maintained uniformly throughout the operation of making the reproductions. Aside from many differing characteristics of surfaces for imparting or stenciling media, there are also to be considered time of exposure, force of air pressure with which media is discharged, angle of discharge, and path of impact upon the surface. As each of these factors will affect the reproduction materially, it is evident that automatic means, such as have been described, are required to maintain the effect caused by any individual factor, and to cause the consecutive copies to be uniformly alike.

While it forms no part of the present invention, and has been described in my applil cation referred to above, it will be necessary, if the diverters or stencils are to be maintained in their proper relative location, to use electromagnetism, or some like force, to anchor them upon the surface S. Especially tance for rocking said levers, and means for adjusting the leverage in each lever to vary the throw of either or both.

15. In a machine of the character described, an air gun, a slide supporting said air gun, a carriage in which said slide is longitudinally slidable, a common drive, and means interposed between said drive and said carriage and slide, to simultaneously move each, and an automatic stop device operable from said common drive.

16. In a machine of the character described, an air gun, a slide supporting said air gun, a carriage in which said slide is longitudinally slidable, means for simultaneously sliding said slide longitudinally of the carriage, and for moving the carriage transversely, a shaft journaled on said carriage, an eccentric on said shaft, operative means connecting said eccentric with the air gun to reciprocate the latter, and a drive for said shaft connecting and synchronized With said carriage and slide moving means.

17. A machine of the character described, comprising a table, a projector, means for moving said table and projector relative to each other, and controlling such movement to cause said projector to traverse the table through a predetermined path, and means for varying the plane of said table relative to the plane of movement of said projector.

18. A machine of the character described, comprising a table, a projector, means for moving said table and projector relative to each other, and controlling such movement to cause said projector to traverse the table through a predetermined path, and means for rotating the table about an axis included in the path of said projector.

19. In a machine of the character described, an air gun, a rod having a vertical shank and a horizontal arm, means for clamping said air gun upon the horizontal arm at any desired angle, a sleeve receiving said vertical shank, means for retaining said shank in said sleeve at any height and in any rotated position about its axis, and means for reciprocating said sleeve through a fixed path.

Signed at Bremerton, Kitsap County, Vashington, this 22d day of July, 1927.

JUSTUS C. ZUBLI. 

